Electrical polishing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hand-held polishing device of the type that can be used for polishing automobiles, in which the polishing member is generally cylindrical in shape with the cylindrical axis being the axis of rotation. A handle encloses an electric motor the rotational axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the polishing member, and a flexible shaft couples the polishing member to the shaft of the electric motor.

[ 51 May 30, 1972 United States Patent Horeni FOREIGN PATENTS RAPPLICATIONS 1,083,504 6/1954 France..................

[54] ELECTRICAL POLISHING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Leon G. MachlinAttorney-Lettvin and Gerstman [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A hand-held polishing device of the [2]] Appl. No.:

b .m .m& e $5 5 t e bmM n all g r. wmmw mwnd h nh oyn epc P........l5/383, /97 i B605 3/06, A471 5/26 polishing automobiles, inwhich the WIS/97,98 23, 24 34 generally cylindrical in shape with thethe axis Of rotation. A encloses a rotational axis of which issubstantiall [52] US. [51] Int. [58] FieldofSearch....................

y perpendicular to the References Cited rotational axis of the polishingmember, and a flexible shaft couples the polishing member to the shaftof the electric mo- I01.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,051 8/1938 Atkinson 3Claims, 1 DrawingFigure ELECTRICAL POLISHING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION conventional hand-held electric polishing apparatuscomprises a polishing cloth or the like fastened to a disc which rotatesabout an axis that is perpendicular to the disc and centrally locatedwith respect thereto. Such apparatus produces noticeable swirls, whichare generally detrimental to the attractive, high-gloss finish desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electricalpolishing device that is simple in construction and has a polishingsurface that extends parallel to the axis of a rotatable polishingcylinder, and which avoids producing the swirls which are produced byprior art polishing apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electricalpolishing device which enables polishing access to areas that aretypically hard to reach.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalpolishing device having a rotating cylindrical polishing surface with asmall amount of oscillatory motion in the axial direction of thecylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided a generally cylindrical roller memberhavinga polishing surface that extends parallel to the roller axis. Amanually graspable handle encloses an electric motor the rotatable shaftof which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rollermember. A flexible shaft located within a fixed, curved tube, isutilized to couple the motor shaft to the roller member, to impartrotation to the roller member and provide oscillatory motion in theaxial direction of the roller.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a generallyconical polishing portion is provided at the distal end of thecylindrical roller member with the conical portion being coaxial withthe cylindrical roller member.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is an elevational view,taken partially in section, of a hand-held polishing device constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawing, the polishing device illustrated therein comprises a rollermember 12, the distal end 14 of which is conical in shape with the conebeing coaxial with a main cylindrical portion 15. Roller member 12 has alambs wool polishing cloth 16 fastened thereto and the roller memberforms a polishing sleeve that is removably slidable with respect to acylindrical plastic support member 18.

Support member 18 is connected to a hub member 20 having an annularouter rim 22 and an annular central portion 24 which serves as a bearingabout a rigid tube 26. Support member 18 is also connected to theannular outer rim of a nylon drive member 28 having an annular centralportion 32 serving as a hearing about rigid tube 26. The end portion 34of drive member 28 is frusto-conical in shape to support conical portion14.

A flexible shaft 36 is positioned within rigid tube 26 and extends pastthe distal end 38 of tube 26 to be keyed to drive member 28 by means ofa set screw or other suitable fastener. Tube 26 carries a collar 42 tolimit rearward movement of hub member 20. Collar 42 is normally spaced asmall distance from hub member 20, to permit slight oscillatory movementof the roller member in its axial direction when the flexible shaft 36is rotating.

One end of flexible shaft 36 is keyed to the shaft of a high torquemotor and fan 44, the housing of which has a gripping pattern and servesas a handle for the polishing device. The motor housing is formed in twosections 46 and 48, with one end of section 46 having exhaust openings50 and one end of section 48 having intake openings 52. Motor and fan 44are connected to a suitable household current supply via conventionalelectrical cord means 54 having off-on switch 56 connected in seriesthereto.

In the operation of the device, when the motor and fan 44 areenergized,the flexible shaft 36 will rotate with the motor shaft therebyturning driving member 28, hub member 20 and support member 18 inrotation therewith. It has been found that a slight oscillatory motionin the axial direction of the roller member will occur. This lost motionmay enhance the polishing properties of the device.

By using a polishing cloth which extends in parallel to the axis ofrotation, waxed surfaces can be easily polished without leaving theundesirable swirls which are associated with conventional polishingapparatus. Further, the conical end 14 can be used in hard-to-reachareas where portion 16 could not reach. During operation of the device,the exhaust air opening 50 will aid in blowing dust and other particlesout of the way and the fan system will also serve to maintain the motorin a relatively clean state.

Although a motor for connection to the household current supply has beenshown, a portable battery pack, having an outlet for plugging into theend 52 of the motor housing section 48, could be utilized if it isdesired to avoid having an electrical line extending from the polishingdevice.

It is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novelspirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held polishing device which comprises: a generally cylindricalroller member having a polishing surface that extends parallel to theroller axis; a manually graspable handle enclosing an electric motorhaving a rotable shaft which extends substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the roller member; means for connecting the electric motor to acurrent source; a tubular member extending from the handle and beingcurved to extend to the roller member and through at least a portionthereof in concentricity with the axis of the roller member; bearingmeans for rotatably coupling the roller member with respect to thetubular member; and a flexible shaft extending within the tubular memberand past the distal end of the tubular member, the flexible shaft beingfastened at one end to a rotating member of the electric motor and atthe other end to the roller member for imparting rotation to the rollermember when the motor is operating.

2. A hand-held polishing device as described in claim 1, including agenerally conical polishing portion at the distal end of the cylindricalroller member with the conical portion being contiguous and coaxialwiththe cylindrical roller member.

3. A hand-held polishing device as described in claim 1, includingblower means for directing air through the electric motor and in thedirection of the roller member to aid in blowing away dust and cleaningthe motor.

1. A hand-held polishing device which comprises: a generally cylindricalroller member having a polishing surface that extends parallel to theroller axis; a manually graspable handle enclosing an electric motorhaving a rotable shaft which extends substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the roller member; means for connecting the electric motor to acurrent source; a tubular member extending from the handle and beingcurved to extend to the roller member and through at least a portionthereof in concentricity with the axis of the roller member; bearingmeans for rotatably coupling the roller member with respect to thetubular member; and a flexible shaft extending within the tubular memberand past the distal end of the tubular member, the flexible shaft beingfastened at one end to a rotating member of the electric motor and atthe other end to the roller member for imparting rotation to the rollermember when the motor is operating.
 2. A hand-held polishing device asdescribed in claim 1, including a generally conical polishing portion atthe distal end of the cylindrical roller member with the conical portionbeing contiguous and coaxial with the cylindrical roller member.
 3. Ahand-held polishing device as described in claim 1, including blowermeans for directing air through the electric motor and in the directionof the roller member to aid in blowing away dust and cleaning the motor.